Modi Sets NITI’s Viksit Bharat Goal Sans Opposition

New Delhi: Amidst a partial boycott by Opposition-ruled states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Saturday, emphasising the ambition to make India a developed nation by 2047.

He underscored the pivotal role of states in this mission due to their direct connection with the people.

In his address at the ninth Governing Council meeting held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, Modi urged states to leverage technological and geopolitical changes to attract foreign investments and drive India’s progress. He stated, “Viksit Bharat @ 2047 is the ambition of every Indian. States can play an active role to achieve this aim as they are directly connected with the people.”

Highlighting the opportunities presented by the current decade, Modi said, “India should grab these opportunities and make our policies conducive for international investments. This is the stepping stone for progress to make India a developed nation.”

The meeting, aimed at fostering collaborative governance between the Centre and states, focused on improving the quality of life for rural and urban populations by enhancing government intervention delivery mechanisms. Modi stressed the importance of reforms like the National Education Policy (NEP), schemes such as Mudra, PM Vishwakarma, and PM Svanidhi, and reforms in the criminal justice system to transform Indian society and the economy.

Modi also emphasised the importance of skill development, research, innovation, and job-based knowledge to make India a skilled and employable workforce, contributing to the vision of a developed India by 2047. He highlighted the need for tackling poverty at the individual level, aiming for zero poverty starting at the village level.

Modi directed NITI Aayog to prepare an "Investment-friendly Charter" to attract investments and encouraged states to provide an investor-friendly environment. He also emphasised the significance of law and order, good governance, and infrastructure in attracting investments.

The meeting saw the absence of 10 states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Puducherry. NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam remarked that it was their loss for not participating, while NITI Aayog vice-chairman Suman Bery stated that Modi encouraged states to compete for foreign direct investment (FDI) to benefit all regions.

During the meeting, Modi underscored the importance of creating river grids at the state level for effective water resource utilisation and initiated demographic management plans to address population aging issues.

The meeting also saw contributions from various chief ministers. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the state’s improved law-and-order situation and economic contributions, inviting Modi to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh in 2025. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel proposed setting up a state institution modeled on NITI Aayog. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasised development priorities, while Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami discussed the state's achievements and proposed hydropower projects to mitigate energy shortages.

The council, which includes all state chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers, aims to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047 through collaborative efforts between the Centre and states.